Vox ToneLab ST: Testing all the amps

[@duesenberger]

That video is still very helpful - ten years after You posted it. Purchased a 2nd hand copy of the Tonelab ST only yesterday.

[@alexmpsi]

I'm a tonelab lover. I have an ex now

[@dagoldigol]

@@alexmpsi Is vox tonelabST can be paired with my marshall lead 12 solidstate amp,is this good sir?

[@homeschoolchromebook1718]

Thank you so much for this video! seeing the amps really gives me a better picture on what each one sounds like. thank you so much!

[@alexmpsi]

Thanks

[@Muggwhumpp]

Man, what a great job you did on this video - pure and honest!!! Thanks so very much brother!!!!!!!!!

[@_Common_Logic_]

Alex, your video showed the tonelab for what it really is. The time you took to demonstrate ALL of the amps showed on thing...No matter how good (Or bad) the modeled amp tone, there's still one huge problem. I have owned mine for three years, have played it through countless guitar amps, both solid state and tube, cabs, monitors, JBL powered speakers and direct into high end power amps and P.A. systems. I've owned 3 Strats (each made of a different wood), a custom Tele w/dual humbuckers, and a dual HB carved koa Alvarez Summit w/a chambered body. I've utilized all of the tone settings available including the amp/direct select switch on the rear of the unit to achieve only three desired tones (Sparkle Clean, Texas Grit, and a Crunchy Classic rock tone) as I don't need to emulate 30 or 40 sounds for our band's type of music. (I don't record. All of my experience w/this unit is live performance). The "sizzle" or "fizz" that makes your ears bleed into your headphones throughout your video is CONSTANTLY present! I thought it was a flaw in my individual unit, I didn't return it as I thought modding it would get me where I wanted (I like to mess with stuff). Mods change this thing but don't fix it. I have actually managed a few very nice believable clean tones from the VOX. It's controls are leveled for complete overkill so you need to keep the settings way below what you would expect to keep it real. You can thicken the tone as some comments below have noticed the brittle nature of the VOX, but the unbearable high end pitch can only be controlled by NEVER raising the treble above 2 or 3 which sucks the life out of most of the patches. You would think something like that could be filtered out in the tone circuit as guitars will never produce that pitch anyway. Vox's new found lack of musical integrity was the ONLY reason I chose to go a different direction with my recent tube amp purchase. I couldn't trust an AC30 that came from the same company. I wish I had seen a video like yours before wasting $200.00 Lesson learned.

[@socialdef3]

I've had mine for 11 years and have no such problem, ever. There are so many factors that could have gone wrong in your signal chain and eq settings that I really don't know where to start. Too bad you couldn't figure out the solution to your specific problem, because the Tonelab ST is a gem of engineering that to my ears, has no equal or superior for the price. Amp modelling and effects are second to none.

[@_Common_Logic_]

@@socialdef3 - Here we are 5 years later and the scenario has changed a bit... By total coincidence, I ended up getting a second ST that was "well used" and abandoned in a damp/previously flooded storage locker for what I can only guess to be YEARS by the condition of the circuitry patina. After cleaning it up with aerosol contact cleaner and finding my old power supply, the thing actually worked. I normally sell the items from these lockers, but I didn't trust selling this one to anyone in the condition it had been found in so I figured I'd play with it a bit and eventually keep it for parts. After a factory flash, this thing sounded and behaved FAR better than my original unit. I still despise the "overdrives" for anything other than "Mild" grit, but some of the compressed cleans I've been able to dial in are pretty amazing. I haven't played live in over two years and I probably wouldn't trust this thing for that seeing as what it's been through, but it really pisses me off that my first SE didn't sound like this when I was gigging. I'm not really into the modeling end as I was only looking to eliminate a ridiculously over sized/under-used pedal board and tuner that was sucking the tone out of my modified (single channel) 60's fender twin. (From my 80's/90's cover band days). This thing seems to add the delays, extra grit, and compression needed when running through a clean tube signal and the bypass is pretty transparent. I hate to admit that I might have been wrong, but "2.0" seems to be doing the job a lot better than his predecessor.

[@alexmpsi]

@mudbone80 Actually, they're a "custom version" for the Texas, with a little bite of mids, just to equilibrate things...

[@fsant80]

Some of these responses are just ridiculous. It's a learning tool of course it's not going to sound exactly like a Twin, Marshall stack or Mesa Boogie but it works for practicing and honing in on the sound you want without spending thousands. Good demo mate!

[@vdbdg]

The JTM45 on 10 is pretty much all a rocker needs. I wish they made a small version with just that amp.

[@rickie330]

Congratulations Alex. After driving myself mad trying to REALLY find out what one of these sounds like and 20-odd demos later, yours is the first to ACTUALLY SHOW WHAT THIS PRODUCT CAN DO, as opposed to showing off your metal riffs like the other demos did. VERY GOOD INDEED. Thank you.

[@experimod]

i like that video,and like vox tonelab - cool thing

[@JPHERO93]

Cara me tira uma dúvida, esse som e de linha? Qual simulador de gabinete vc está usando?

[@fabianromano]

No JCM 800 model ?? I have a vox VT120AD valvetronix and that is my favorite amp model. It kicks ass

[@lucasmarchette10]

Cheio de pedaleiras hoje em dia com IR e um monte de outras tecnologias de captura de amp... Daí eu venho aqui e vejo esse video de 12 anos atrás com uma pedaleira que NÃO usa IR e tem esse som em Linha. Puta som de Amp... O som tá pronto.

[@alexmpsi]

sou total apaixonado na tonelab

[@SixGunLover]

I had the ST and used to love it. I'm looking at getting a modeling setup again - having used both, how do you find the POD HD500 compares to the Tonelab? Pros/cons? I'm not a big effects user and I generally play rock (from classic through to hard rock or grunge) but various other styles too (blues, soul, funk etc). The main tones I'm looking for are British AC/EL84 type stuff, Fender Tweed and Blackface and Marshall Plexi. I'd appreciate whatever advice you have to offer. Thanks for your time.

[@homeschoolchromebook1718]

Do you remember what the eq was set to? did you change it depending on the amp?

[@alexmpsi]

@chrislongovids Thanx for your link

[@SilverWalker84]

its all about the speaker you run this device into. When I was a beginner I thought buying a Valvetronix model would be great but the amp combo I got just sucked. Muddy and just awful. Years later I bought a VHT Special 6 combo tube amp with a high sensitivity speaker and I mean thats an understatement. Anyway I decided to put a better speaker in my VHT and just popped that high sensitivity speaker in my Vox Valvetronix for shits and giggles. The amp is amazing now. Not all modeling functions are because some are just stupid but the ones you want like ac models and the added effects are superb because of that damn cheap ass speaker. it was pure luck. so when I got this Tonelab I built a cabinet with 2 of those speakers and I use this in my effects chain...mostly for modulation. Sorry to be long winded but I want people to know there is a way to make this shine

[@bandatheocean]

EXCELENTE VÍDEO ALEX!!! Eu estava pensando em pegar uma POD HD 300, mas tenho estado de olho nesta VOX TONELAB ST que tem um preço mais baixo, algo em torno de R$700,00 aqui no Rio. Gostei dos sons do POD HD, mas acho que a VOX TONELAB ST me atenderá muito bem. Grande abraço

[@TheMichaelseymour]

I really like the "hayseed" - 9:39

[@miltonmorales]

@alexromachado É mesmo, cara, tão bom assim? Tipo, até cheguei a te falar que a ST é muito bacana, pois me agradou muito num teste, mas não sabia que estava no nível da HD. Isso realmente me deixou impressionado. Eu até pensei em comprá-la, mas esbarrei nas parcas opções de ajustes. Quanto aos efeitos, lembro de achá-los decentes. São tão ruins assim? Eu tenho uma RP350, e nela, que eu não esperava muito, tenho tido ótimo retorno dos efeitos. Achei que os da VOX fossem melhores.

[@sukruaydin7207]

REALLY GOOD VİDEO THANKS :)

[@baalim92]

As usual the amp modulation is nice for vintage amp tone, but all the high gain and metal "amps" sounds really digital and artificial (got the same problem with my VT amp) I use the tonelab EX at home and in studio, it sounds great for home practice and song writing, or in studio to work with my band But on stage I prefer my dozen of analog pedals with my Hot Rod Deluxe wich are too heavy to go in studio two times a week In brief that a cool device, but not for metal and/or stage like vox says

[@Telecom_na_Pratica]

ESSE VIDEO ME AJUDOU MELHOR DO QUE O MANUAL ESES AMPS SERVE PARA A VOX TONELAB EX

[@tiokowka]

I have a question. What mode of the amp select?? In the back thispedals have a selector (amp). Thanks

[@garyweaver9222]

This was USB and didn't use the analog out. Presets are like the cake recipe and you make adjustments to taste.

[@WallyBoots]

Great Job!!!

[@alexmpsi]

@miltonmorales Bem, eu precisava de uma alternativa rápida e barata até consertar a HD... O problema é que gostei demais dos timbres e muito provavelmente venderei a HD, consertada ou não (caso alguém queira levá-la à assistência técnica). Encontrei timbres iguais/melhores que a HD, sem frescuras, menus, etc. Se quiser outros overdrives, posso colocar na frente. É fraco é efeitos/opções, mas é a coisa mais "plug and play" que já toquei. Ah, e se estragar, é bem mais barato.

[@CoverCriticShane]

Great Demo , I loled at the Brian May demo.

[@alexmpsi]

Fantastic

[@noworries12]

is it possible you forgot to switch on the speakersim ....it all sounds like a guitar straight to the mixer

[@mudbone80]

Are those the Brazilian version of the Texas Specials? I heard they're just as good as the original.

[@miltonmorales]

@alexromachado Aliás, cara, outra hora grava sons de drive e higain com a Lespa... com a strato não deu para sacar tão bem essas simulações... ;]

[@andresnavegante1907]

GRACIASS GENIOOOOOO!!!

[@alexmpsi]

@MetallicUFO Sorry, but I disagree. To my ears, the ST HiGains sounds like/or even better than my POD HD500

[@miltonmorales]

Ué, Alex, Tonelab ST? hehehe... e o que estás achando da criança? ;]

[@nginfoua]

on hi-gain amps you should drop your strat and pick up les paul))

[@chrislongovids]

Cool video. Some of the models seem off from what I researched. Here's a list of models based on the descriptions and searching forums and such: bit.ly/tonelab-st-models

[@81giorikas]

Damn it every tonelab DI clip sounds like treble gone wild. All of them unuseable as the gain goes up which is opposite for the clean and breaking up tones...

[@anthonynavidad]

I must be Beavis...coz all these other people sound like buttheads! I love this product for practice. For what it is and how much it costs, it's great! Buttheads Expect too much lol

[@slimyesli]

Used the ST for 3 years. barely got it to sound good. anyone looking for amp modelers should check out Amplitube 3. the tones on there are amazing even better in my opinion than what Guitar Rig has to offer

[@MetallicUFO]

this toy have a great clean amps sound, but the hi gain amps are more or less bad

[@noworries12]

bääh,the typical weakness of modelling:breakupsounds sound harsh and thin...

[@O0Salmon0O]

Just commenting on the tone and not your playing or the video, all of these tones are missing bulk, body, weight. They are all just thin pecky-pecky sounds. A real amp balloons, rings, resonates, sustains even while clean. This device misses the target.

[@billmathews3935]

some sound ok others are just awful

[@apinakapinastorba]

After seeing this, I might actually not buy the pedal after all.

[@marviosantos]

There's something very strange with these clips... Almost like digital clipping? There's really no proper clean tone anywhere, they all "break up", but not in a natural way (even for a modeler), it really sounds like the output was too hot and was clipping the track. Useless video

[@geokar16]

That sounded like crap. Fizzy, with tons of treble and thin as hell. Seems that you didn't spend even a second to tweak it. Sorry but your demo doesn't do justice to the thing...

[@Enarfnilug]

Bad,bad sound.Idea for video is good but please,use guitar with humbuckers to get better sound!

[@saboteur1001]

All amps sound just awful and useless. The sound is thin, squeaky and disgusting. No middles at all, no fullness, no roundness of real amps. Or is it such a squeaky guitar? I have always hated Fenders.